The Columbia Track Club presents the annual Heart of America Marathon on Labor Day Monday in Columbia, Missouri. Continuously running since 1960 – Be a part of historyHome of the world-famous Easley HillRun the race with HEART! (heat, hills, and humidity included at no extra charge.)*Please note: 6-hour time limit …
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The Columbia Track Club presents the annual Heart of America Marathon on Labor Day Monday in Columbia, Missouri.
Continuously running since 1960 – Be a part of history
Home of the world-famous Easley Hill
Run the race with HEART! (heat, hills, and humidity included at no extra charge.)
*Please note: 6-hour time limit
Course Description
26.2 miles starting at the Boone County History and Culture Center at Nifong Park, running 11 miles down to the Katy Trail, (formerly the MKT Trail Line, now part of the U.S Rails-to Trails system) for 1.5 miles along the scenic Missouri River, past Cooper’s Landing and the historic community of Easley, from where Easley Hill (Route N) affectionately takes its name. Picturesque rural landscape abounds along the winding uphill Route N. Passing the Pierpont General Store, a building which has stood since 1889, the course skirts Rock Bridge State Park before heading back toward Columbia, to Phillips Lake, then back to the Boone County History and Culture Center.
**Please note, approximately 5.5 miles of the course is on well-maintained gravel roads/trail to include Smith Hatchery Rd, the Katy Trail, East Bonne Femme Church Rd and South Gans Creek Rd. This is an open course. Runners must run single file on trafficked roads.
The course is USATF certified #MO19024DG.
Aid Stations are about every two miles with water, Gatorade, ice, and enthusiastic volunteers.
Post-race festivities will be held at the finish line – Research Drive in front of the MURR Building off Providence Rd. Free pizza to all HOA entrants and volunteers.
This is a point-to-point race. A shuttle will be available, courtesy of Machens, at the finish to take runners back to their vehicles at the start line.
Overall awards and special awards instead of age group awards will be given. The award ceremony will be held at the finish line at noon. Awards will not be mailed.
Most loved parts:
- Easley Hill
- Running on the Katy Trail along the Missouri River
- Trail/Gravel Roads, (approx.. 5.5 miles gravel roads) rural feel
- Community support
- Running past Pierpont General Store and their aid station
- Running past Cooper’s Landing and their aid station
- Historic
- Hometown feel
- Low on frill
- Challenging
- Special awards instead of age group awards
- Heat, hills and humidity
Most hated parts:
- Easley Hill
- Trail/Gravel roads, (approx.. 5.5 miles gravel roads) rural feel
- Philips Lake turn around (“Why, just why??)
- Roundabouts – 4 of ‘em, and no cutting across. You run 4 roundabouts.
- 6 hr cut off – Firm.
- Low on frill (“What? No Gu?” – “That’s right. Plan your own nutrition”)
- The 14 Aid stations are not evenly spaced (check map and locations prior to race to plan)
- Open course, traffic on Rt. K and Rt. N
- Challenging
- No age group awards
- Heat, hills and humidity
Before registering, please note:
- 6 hour cut off – (marathon and relay)
- Approximately 5.5 miles of the course is on well-maintained gravel roads/trail
- There are roundabouts. The course goes around them in a clockwise fashion on the sidewalk.
- This is no frill. 14 Aid Stations (one more than 2020) are provided with water and/or Gatorade. No nutrition is provided.
- There is an out and back toward the end of the race at Philips Lake. It is unshaded and known to be a tough stretch. (specifically, miles 22-25)
- Pacing is not allowed. No bicycles pacing runners
- Open course with some narrow, winding roads (Route N). Runners must run single file.
- Non-race sanctioned drive alongs or ride alongs (bicycles) are not allowed.
- Wheelchair users should be aware that this course contains 5.5 miles of gravel road/trail, significant inclines, and declines, begins in the dark, is not a closed course and significant parts of the course are run on roads with no shoulders.
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Small marathon - recognizes runners
Excellent race organization, unique finisher awards and other quirky awards, and nice logo. The volunteers were excellent! There's also a relay going on so nice to see fresh runners throughout … MORE
Excellent race organization, unique finisher awards and other quirky awards, and nice logo. The volunteers were excellent! There’s also a relay going on so nice to see fresh runners throughout the course. This marathon has really matured over the years and they do a wonderful job.
Not for First-Timers; Tough but Worth it
This was the most challenging Marathon I've run to date. The Route had sloping hills nearly the entire way with 2 major inclines. I do Not recommend this for first-timers. … MORE
This was the most challenging Marathon I’ve run to date. The Route had sloping hills nearly the entire way with 2 major inclines. I do Not recommend this for first-timers. 1 memoriable mention was the run by the lower river basin, there was a stink that almost made all runners pass out (pretty rank). This course was a rural run which added to the scenic run (Fantastic) and made this very rewarding and enjoyable but scored the low scores due to lack of any course support. Nature was your port-a-potty (BYO T-P). I had a solid 20m but the wheels fell off the last 10K. Still glad I ran this event.